THE GOLDEN LOTUS	337
how, in a later life, he became Tung P'o. She went on for a
long time.
Fragrance brought two boxes of vegetarian food and cakes.
She took the incense-burner from the table and put down the
food and a pot of tea. The nuns had this, then the maid brought
food and a jar of wine for the other ladies as they sat around
the fire.
The Moon Lady cast dice with her sister-in-law, and
Golden Lotus guessed fingers with Picture of Grace. Flute of
Jade stood behind Golden Lotus's chair to serve the wine and,
at the same time, suggested how she should play. Picture of
Grace was beaten.
"I will guess fingers with her now," Tower of Jade said.
"She seems to win all the time. But I won't have her putting*
her fingers in her sleeves, or Flute of Jade standing behind
her, either,'?
Golden Lotus was beaten and was made to drink several
cups of wine. She went to her room. She had to knock at the
corner gate for a long time before Chrysanthemum, rubbing
her eyes, came to open it.
"You have been to bed, you slave," Golden Lotus said.
"No," said Chrysanthemum.
"You are lying, you have only just this moment got up.
What an idle good-for-nothing you are! You didn't even corne
to meet me. Has your father gone to bed?"
"He has been in bed a long time," Chrysanthemum said.
Golden Lotus went to the inner room, pulled up her skirts,
and warmed herself at the fire. Then she demanded tea.
Chrysanthemum hastily poured out a cup for her.
"Your hands are dirty and I don't want stewed tea. Go and tell
Plum Blossom to get the small kettle and boil some fresh water.
Put some more tea-leaves in the pot and make it strong."
"Plum Blossom has gone to bed. Shall I wake her?"
"No, don't disturb her. Let her sleep."
Chrysanthemum went in. Plum Blossom was sleeping at
Hsi-mSn Ch'ing's feet. Chrysanthemum woke her up. "Mother
has come," she said. "She wants some tea. Get up at once."
Plum Blossom spat at her and cursed her.
"You slave! What do you mean by coming here and startling
me like that? 'Mother has come', indeed! Weir, what about it?"